Caisson



Sept. 1938- w. F. SCHMIDT ET AL CAISSON Filed Nov. 12, 1937 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAISSON Application November 12, 1937, Serial No. 174,256

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in caissons and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a caisson of novel construction to,

5 be used when excavating telephone pole or post holes in quicksand or gravelly ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a caisson constructed of slidably engageable sections to facilitate its placement in an excavation when same in being dug.

Another object of the invention is to provide a substantially water tight connection between the sections to keep water from seeping into the excavation from the walls thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a caisson wherein the sections of the caisson may be lowered alternately as the excavating of. the hole progresses.

All of the foregoing and still further objects 20 and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side View of my invention partly broken away in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken .20 substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it Will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially cylindrical body which is generally indi- 35 cated by the numeral 5. The body 5 comprises semi-cylindrical sections 6 and I having apertures s through which lengths of wire 9 are passed, the end portions of which are twisted as at If] to draw the semicylindrical sections together to form the 40 complete cylindrical body 5.

The semicylindrical section 6 has secured thereto, by rivets'or other securing means II, at its vertical marginal portions pairs of guide plates or flanges 92 for receiving the vertical marginal 4;, portions of the semi-cylindrical section I therebetween in a manner to form a substantially water tight slidableconnection between said sections 6 and l.

The upper end portions of the sections 6 and 1 have secured thereto by rivets or other fastening means l3 pairs of inner and outer reinforcing straps I4 for strengthening said sections.

Handles l5, substantially in the form of loops, are secured by bolts or other fastening means l6 to the upper end portions of the sections 6 and 1 and are situated diametrically opposite one another when the sections 6 and l are placed together.

When the device is to be used, the sections 6 and 1 may be secured together by the wires 9 and lowered into an excavation as a cylindrical. body as indicated by the reference numeral in Fig. 1, or the sections may be placed together in the excavation with the vertical marginal portions engaged with the wires 9 omitted. When placed in the excavation without the wires 9 attached the sections 6 and i may be lowered alternately, or withdrawn separately. The vertical marginal portions of the, section I fit between the guide plates l2 in a manner to form a substantially watertight connection thus preventing the seepage of water into the excavation while the same is being dug. The device may also be used as a form when pouring concrete around the base of a post or pole.

Although we have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be definitely understood that we do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the material and in the structure and arrangement of the parts within the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

In a device of the character described, a caisson comprising substantially cylindrical complemental sections having apertures therein, lengths of wire engaged in the apertures to hold the sec-- tions together, pairs of inner and outer reenforcing straps secured to the upper end portions of said sections, pairs of guide forming plates secured to the vertical marginal portions of one of said sections for slidably receiving the corresponding portions of the other sections therebetween, and handles secured to the top portions of said sections.

WILLIAM FRED SCHMIDT. THOMAS JOSEPH BRESINA. 

